Marysville woman is third Republican to challenge Sen. Sherrod Brown

Tuesday

Sep 5, 2017 at 4:44 PMSep 6, 2017 at 2:30 PM

Marty Schladen The Columbus Dispatch @martyschladen

A third Republican candidate is seeking to oust Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown next year.

Melissa Ackison, a 39-year-old business owner from Marysville, jumped into the race Monday. Earlier this year, the Trump administration gave her a platform as a prominent critic of the Affordable Care Act, which the administration failed to repeal despite GOP control of both houses of Congress.

Asked why she decided to get into the race, Ackison said: "I'm not confident about career politicians representing us."

It's a similar appeal to that being made by Cleveland banker Mike Gibbons, who is also competing for the GOP nomination. They'll be going up against Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, who is making his second run at Brown, a prime target for national Republicans.

Ackison, who owns a surveying company with her husband, said she and Gibbons have been in touch with each other and share many principles — especially their opposition to "career politicians."

Ackison said the two campaigns also are similarly financed. "We are primarily self-funded," she said.

Ackison said she wants to reform entitlement programs such as Medicaid. Asked what she'd do, Ackison said: "I don't think expansion of Medicaid year after year or single payer is the answer."

Asked about President Donald Trump's announcement Tuesday that he would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, she said the immigration system needs to be reformed in a way that protects immigrants and Americans. She wouldn't answer directly when asked whether Congress should pass a law allowing undocumented immigrants who were brought here as children to stay.

mschladen@dispatch.com

@martyschladen

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